OT: Speed of the puck and San Jose.

[ricflair4LIFE]

Just read the puck speed thread. Interesting. I've always been told that the most difficult thing to do in any sport is to hit a baseball. That always made sense to me. The ball is traveling 90-100 m/h. You have a split second to decide to swing or not. Then maybe you'll hit the ball.

After reading "puck speed" it has me wondering if a baseball is more difficult to hit. Or is the puck more difficult to catch? (with people in front of the goalie) It has me wondering. But I'm leaning to the baseball side.

As for the Sharks .... I've never seen them play. Ever. Will gm or any other hockey expert be giving a summary of the Sharks? And tell us what to look for during the games? Also, who should win?

 

[wbrpanther]

Just read the puck speed thread. Interesting. I've always been told that the most difficult thing to do in any sport is to hit a baseball. That always made sense to me. The ball is traveling 90-100 m/h. You have a split second to decide to swing or not. Then maybe you'll hit the ball.

After reading "puck speed" it has me wondering if a baseball is more difficult to hit. Or is the puck more difficult to catch? (with people in front of the goalie) It has me wondering. But I'm leaning to the baseball side.

As for the Sharks .... I've never seen them play. Ever. Will gm or any other hockey expert be giving a summary of the Sharks? And tell us what to look for during the games? Also, who should win?

Good goalies stop the puck over 90% of the time. Good hitters get hits 30% of the time. There are other factors involved but the difference in those two numbers tell me hitting a round ball with a round bat squarely is the hardest thing in sports.

 

[ricflair4LIFE]

Good goalies stop the puck over 90% of the time. Good hitters get hits 30% of the time. There are other factors involved but the difference in those two numbers tell me hitting a round ball with a round bat squarely is the hardest thing in sports.

But what % of the time do they hit the ball?

 

[wbrpanther]

But what % of the time do they hit the ball?

No where near 90%.

 

[fullcourt67]

San Jose is peaking. They skate and muck well. Their goalie is excellent though nobody knows his name. Watch Pavelski, Thornton,Couture, Marleau and Burns. Games in Pgh are crucial, sharks should win in San jose.

 

[Saboteur]

No where near 90%.

I looked at Neil Walkers stats the other day. He had struck out more than 40 times in fewer than 150 ABs.

 

[panther94]

No where near 90%.

I'd be interested to see that stat. What percent of the time does a hitter make contact, or reverse that to what percent of the time do they swing and miss completely?

 

[panther94]

I looked at Neil Walkers stats the other day. He had struck out more than 40 times in fewer than 150 ABs.

I just looked it up, a Major League Batter makes contact with the ball when he swings 80% of the time. That's the average. I was surprised it was so high, but that's any contact, so foul tips and foul balls count too.

 

[KennyTheKangaroo]

I don't think contact rate is as telling of a state as the frequency of hard hits. It is hard to hit a ball hard.

 

[pittdan77]

At this point in the playoffs, it will be a matter of who wears who out first. Enough good hitting and physical play can wear down a small team but speed can kill a big physical team.

It's very anecdotal but watching some of the highlights of San Jose, they move very slowly around the net. Teams that give them second chances pay. The Pens would be well served to keep the pressure on. That seems to be when they're at their best this spring.